mutlub, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

mutlub n.

[Hind. ???? (matlab), intention, purpose, meaning, sense, point, from Arabic ma?lab. ‘The Arabic, from ?alab, ‘he asked,’ properly means a question, hence intention, wish, object, &c. In Anglo-Indian use it always means “purpose, gist,” and the like’ (Yule & Burnell)]

(Anglo-Ind.) the gist of the matter; the essential motive or purpose.

1856		[J.J. Morier] Adventures of Hajji Baba 236: [A]t length, just as she had ordered her coachman to drive away, I discerned the mutlub, that is, the real object of her visit.
1888		C.M. MacGregor Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor I 184: He then made me a speech, of which the following is the mutlab [gist] [etc].
1890		Indian Mag. 365: The conversation between the European sahib and the native will depend upon the mutlab or garaz (object) of the visit.
1891		J.C. Wills In the Land of the Lion and Sun 290: Or after a long string of compliments and inquiries after the health of the correspondent, comes the ‘mutlub,’ or essence of the letter.
1914		E. Bennet Shots and Snapshots in British East Africa 66: Trust an Indian for having a ‘mutlub’ (intention) in everything he does.
1922		M. Diver Captain Desmond, V.C. 236: ‘So now, will you take charge of Desmond for me, and put yourself under my orders? – that’s the real mutlub* of the whole matter.’ [footnote: Gist].
1933		L.M.H. Handley Hunters Moon 70: No Oriental really understands the Western meaning of true friendship. In their view for all friendship there must be an underlying reason or a subsequent advantage to be gained – so well described in Urdu by the one word ‘mutlab’.